Minnesota Leads the Way: Best States for Healthcare Revealed for

When it comes to healthcare, I am a frequent flyer. I have been diagnosed with cancer twice, had countless surgeries, and more. All my stuff has been fixable, so I consider myself very fortunate.

Growing up in Minnesota, to where I am today -- I have always had the sense that healthcare in Minnesota was better than most. Maybe that thinking came from the fact that the Mayo Clinic is headquartered here.

From high out-of-pocket costs to difficulty accessing timely and effective care, many Americans are unhappy with the U.S. healthcare system. In fact, nearly one in two Americans (48%) feel that the healthcare system has major problems and one in five (20%) say the healthcare system is in a state of crisis, according to Gallup’s Healthcare survey.

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In some states, accessing healthcare may be easier for residents due to lower costs, higher rates of health insurance coverage, an abundance of healthcare providers and access to timely and effective care. So, which state is the best for health care? Ours is. Forbes Advisor compared all 50 states across 24 metrics, and found that Minnesota is the best state for healthcare.

The Top Five States for Healthcare in 2024

Minnesota
Massachusetts
Rhode Island
Connecticut
Vermont

Just 24% of Minnesota patients reported that hospital staff “sometimes” or “never” discussed possible side effects of new medication, the third lowest amount. Minnesota also boasts the third highest number of critical care nurses and certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), with 5.53 per 10,000 adults.

Other factors that contributed to Minnesota's overall number one ranking:

Fourth lowest rate of both influenza and pneumonia deaths
Fourth lowest rate of kidney disease deaths
Fifth lowest percentage of residents who lack health insurance coverage
Sixth highest score in hospital care

The Five Worst States for Healthcare in 2024

#46 - South Carolina
#47 - Mississippi
#48 - North Carolina
#49 - Alabama
#50 - Georgia

It's good to be us. You can see the full rankings and methodology here.

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Gallery Credit: Paul Feinstein